Cattle-guard.



0 O 9 3 2 .L 0 d e n B a P w. EVANS & N. McARTHUR.

'CATTLE GUARD.

(Application filed Jan. 6, 1900.)

(N0 Model.)

Wifr esses:

diflorneys ETERS co. PMOTOLITHCL, WASHINGTON, n, c.

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM EVANS AND NEIL MCARTHUR, OF STURGEON FALLS, CANADA.

CATTLE-G UARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,495, dated October 23, 1900.

Application filed January 6, 1900. Serial No. 631- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it, may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM EVANS and NEIL McAR'rHuR, subjects of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Sturgeon Falls, county of Nipissing, Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cattle-Guards; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to cattle-guards of that class which are designed to be placed upon a railroad-track to prevent cattle from passing along the track or from getting from one field into another by means of the track.

The object is to provide a cattle-guard of this character which is simple in construction, strong and durable, effectivein operation, and which can be manufactured at a moderate cost.

To these ends the invention consists in a cattle-guard constructed substantially as.

hereinafter illustrated and described, and defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a section of track to which is applied a cattle-guard constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view with certain parts of the track and the improved cattle-guard broken away, the plane of the section being taken near one of the track-rails and through parts of the cattle-guard, so as to show the links which form the pivotal support for the guard proper, said links being themselves pivoted on supporting-plates fastened to the sleepers.

In the drawings, A represents a section of a railroad, between the rails of which is pivoted a platform A, which is constructed, preferabl y, in the form of a series of spaced bars ct, solidly united in any suitable manner. As shown, the platform is secured to a rod a, which is pivotally connected by means of straps a to a beam a secured to one of the sleepers. It is evident, however, that any suitable pivotal connection other than that shown may be employed, if desired.

At the extremities of the bars a are curved fingers or books a which are adapted to rest upon and engage the rod Z) of the guard B and, if desired, one or more of said bars a may be provided with a spring-plate at, which is adapted to engage the underside of the bar band prevent the accidental disengagement of the platform A.

The guard B is constructed, preferably,of a rock-plate B, which is provided at its rear portion with the rod b and at its front portion with the bar I), to which the rods 19 are firmly bolted. The portion of the rock-plate B between the rod 1) and the bar b is downwardly curved and prefcrablyis composed of a series of spaced strips 19 for the purpose of combining lightness with strength. The series of spaced strips which constitute the curved rock-plate B, have secured thereto in any suitable Way a transverse horizontal rod As shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings, a strap or link 5 has one end loosely fitted on or looped around this rod 1), and this link or strap is extended away from the rock-plate, the free end of, said link or strap 11 being connected by a pivot or pin to the upstanding ears or flanges on a metallic plate which spans two of the sleepers and is firmly secured thereto, substantially as shown by Fig. 2. There are two of these links or straps b employed, one near each end of the rockplate and the rod 19, and these plates or straps are adapted to rest on their supporting plates or on studs extending upwardly therefrom, as shown by Fig. 2, whereby the links or straps in the normal position of the parts are adapted to serve as the pivotal support for the rock-plate. The rods 1) are re ceived in their lowered position between the spaced timbers D, secured between the rails in front of the guard B, and suitable stops cl may be arranged between said timbers to prevent the rods from descending too far.

When cattle attempt to pass along the track, they must first step upon the platform, which is immediately pressed down,

causing the guard B to fly up and prevent their further passage. As soon as the weight is removed from the platform the guard falls down by gravity out of the way of passing trains. By reason of the loose connection of the straps all injurious jarring of the guard as it flies up is prevented. When the platform is fully depressed, the front portion of .yet we do not desire to limit ourselves to 'eflect the objects to be attaiued by this indownward movement of said platform; and

the curved rockplate is adapted to bear in pon one of the sleepers, and the links or straps are free to be raised slightly in order that the guard may assume an approximately-vertical position.

While we have herein shown a preferred form of carrying our invention into elfeot,

such preferred details of construction, but claim the right to use any and all modifications thereof which will serve to carry into vention in so far as such modifications and changes may fall within the spirit and scope of our said invention.

We claiml. A cattle-guard, comprising a pivoted platform; a pivoted guard adapted to be engaged by said platform and elevated by the straps loosely pivoted to a suitable support and pivotally connected to said guard, said straps being adapted to bear upon a suitable support understrain and provide a fulcrum for said guard, substantially as described.

2. A cattle-guard, comprising a platform pivoted at its rear end to a suitable support and having at its forward end curved fingers; a guard having a curved rock-plate at its rear end adapted to be operatively engaged by WILLIAM EVANS. NEIL MOARTHUR.

Witnesses:

V. R. OLIVER, a H. DENNISON. 

